Historic Salem Shrine
In 1855 the Michael Gackstetter family, with six children, left St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada for Minnesota. In 1852 the Adam Laschinger family, who lived at New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada, moved to Dakota County, Minnesota. The Gackstetter family farm was north of the current church property, and the Laschinger’s farm was west of the property on which the church is located.
Both families were members of the Evangelical church in Canada; and shortly after they were settled in Minnesota, they requested the Evangelical church in Canada to send a pastor to Minnesota. In November, 1856, Andrew Tarnutzer, the first Evangelical minister in Minnesota, arrived in Winona, Minnesota. In February, 1857, he arrived in St. Paul. On March 2, 1857, Rev. Tarnutzer organized the first Evangelical class of members of the Evangelical church in Minnesota. Michael Gackstetter was elected the first class leader of the Evangelical church in Minnesota, known as the Salem Evangelical Church.
From 1857 until 1874, a small building across the road from the present site was the place of worship. This small frame building had siding that ran up and down, two windows, one door, and several wooden benches. In 1874 H. E. Bunse became pastor to both Emanuel Evangelical Church at Pine and 11th Streets in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Salem Evangelical Church. Rev. Bunse began construction of the current building on farm land donated by the Michael Gackstetter family. The church measures 20 feet six inches by 32 feet six inches, has a hall or tower entrance of five feet by seven feet, and measures fourteen feet from the stone foundation to the eaves with a tower of approximately 30 feet. Mr. Hauck of Emmanuel as well as the farmers and people in the neighborhood helped in the construction. Before the present building was completed, Rev. Bunse was elected presiding elder of Emanuel Evangelical Church. Rev. Ernest Hielscher was assigned to Salem Evangelical Church.
The first camp meeting was held on the Gackstetter farm between July 1st and July 6, 1857. It was reported that there were seven tents erected, two covered wagons, and that there were nine conversions. Among the converts was Jacob Bosshardt of East Prairie, Minnesota. The second camp meeting was held in 1858 on the Adam Laschinger farm, and there were thirteen conversions. These 22 conversions, along with Laschinger and Gackstetter families, comprised the original members. Among the first members of the Salem Kirche, were: Michael Gackstetter, Adam Laschinger, Jacob Binder, Jacob Bosshardt, George Glassing, Frederick Goldberg, Frederick Wm. Goldberg, C. F. Kachel, John Kochendorfer, Heinrich Schafer, Gottfried Schmidt, John Simon, and Frederick Zehnder.
Salem Evangelical Church held continuous worship services until 1910, at which time most of its families migrated to the Winifred Street Church (now Faith United Methodist Church in West St. Paul), with some of the families moving to the West Side Community Church (now a part of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Mendota Heights) and the Zion Methodist Episcopal Church down the road (now Salem United Methodist Church). After its closing, ownership was continued as a historical site by the Evangelical church formed in 1922, by the Evangelical United Brethren church formed in 1946, and lastly by the United Methodist church formed in 1968. Until the late 1960’s when Dakota County renamed streets this road was known as Salem Church Road. It remains the only street in Dakota County to have two historic churches, both named Salem on the same road. Salem Church Road still exists within the boundaries of the City of Sunfish Lake.
In 1949 a group of interested people organized as a committee to care for the building and cemetery grounds. Arthur Schlukebier was elected president and Christian J. Zehnder became secretary-treasurer. The current committee has 16 members.
Since 1955 the committee has held a Founder’s Day service on the first Sunday in June, and in 1998 began an Epiphany Service on the first Sunday in January. The potbelly wood-burning stove is used to heat the building for winter events. The original pump organ is still in the church and used at worship services. Each year there are weddings, family reunions, tours, and other special occasions held at the church. The church building, cemetery, and the grounds capture the local color of a rural atmosphere and a sense of heritage of pioneer courage and steadfast faith in God. The church and adjoining cemetery reveal a great deal about the history of Inver Grove Heights between the 1700s and the present.
The first person buried in the cemetery at Salem Evangelical Church was Anna Borchardt, who made her home with the Adam Laschinger family, according to their family album. The first recorded burial in the cemetery records, however, was of Edward Goldberg in July, 1876.
It is opened for worship at 4:00 p.m. on Epiphany [Usually the 1st Sunday in January] and Founder’s Day [The first Sunday in June]. For information on renting the Little White Church for small weddings contact Rev. Leonard Boche at 651-482-7881.